2016 NFL Net Punting Average Leaders

Net average subtracts return yards and 20 yards for every touchback from each punt, then divides by punts. It is the yardage a punt really gains for its team, so it is the standard measure of punting.

Higher is better. Coverage teams affect it as well as the punter. In 2016, Johnny Hekker (46.0) led NFL punters in net punting average, ahead of Sam Martin (44.2) and Pat McAfee (42.7). 34 punters qualify (minimum 30 punts). The median qualified punter had 40.0.

Final 2016 regular-season numbers, updated October 23, 2026.

Rk	Player	Team	Net	Punts	Avg	In 20	In 20 %	TB %	FC %	Points
1	Johnny Hekker	Los Angeles Rams	46.0	98	47.8	51	52%	1%	41%	+32.5
2	Sam Martin	Detroit Lions	44.2	62	48.5	23	37%	5%	23%	+7.1
3	Pat McAfee	Indianapolis Colts	42.7	56	49.3	19	34%	16%	31%	+3.4
4	Bryan Anger	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	42.7	70	45.9	37	53%	7%	41%	+19.3
5	Thomas Morstead	New Orleans Saints	42.4	57	48.3	22	39%	9%	12%	−1.7
6	Matt Bosher	Atlanta Falcons	41.6	44	46.8	21	48%	2%	36%	+1.6
7	Ryan Allen	New England Patriots	41.4	72	44.7	23	32%	7%	26%	+15.0
8	Marquette King	Las Vegas Raiders	41.4	81	48.6	34	42%	11%	19%	+13.9
9	Riley Dixon	Denver Broncos	41.3	89	45.7	28	31%	7%	28%	+6.2
10	Brad Wing	New York Giants	40.9	93	46.2	28	30%	9%	17%	+9.9
11	Donnie Jones	Philadelphia Eagles	40.7	63	45.8	21	33%	10%	24%	+3.5
12	Dustin Colquitt	Kansas City Chiefs	40.7	76	45.1	38	50%	12%	36%	+14.0
13	Chris Jones	Dallas Cowboys	40.5	59	45.9	25	42%	7%	29%	−6.6
14	Andy Lee	Carolina Panthers	40.4	36	49.1	18	50%	11%	19%	+1.4
15	Britton Colquitt	Cleveland Browns	40.3	83	45.3	22	27%	2%	28%	+1.7
16	Jordan Berry	Pittsburgh Steelers	40.2	69	45.6	25	36%	4%	25%	+0.1
17	Shane Lechler	Houston Texans	40.1	72	47.5	30	42%	4%	18%	−11.4
18	Matt Darr	Miami Dolphins	39.9	90	44.3	32	36%	6%	29%	−1.8
19	Sam Koch	Baltimore Ravens	39.9	80	45.8	37	46%	6%	18%	+2.2
20	Drew Kaser	Los Angeles Chargers	39.8	59	46.3	18	31%	8%	17%	−5.1
21	Bradley Pinion	San Francisco 49ers	39.8	100	44.0	28	28%	4%	41%	−7.1
22	Kevin Huber	Cincinnati Bengals	39.5	78	46.3	23	29%	10%	26%	−8.6
23	Brad Nortman	Jacksonville Jaguars	39.5	77	46.6	27	35%	10%	25%	+1.4
24	Jon Ryan	Seattle Seahawks	39.3	72	44.0	26	36%	4%	31%	−6.7
25	Jacob Schum	Green Bay Packers	39.1	56	43.2	19	34%	7%	32%	−9.6
26	Jeff Locke	Minnesota Vikings	39.0	74	42.6	34	46%	4%	38%	−3.6
27	Tress Way	Washington Commanders	38.9	49	45.1	15	31%	8%	14%	−5.7
28	Brett Kern	Tennessee Titans	38.6	77	44.2	32	42%	5%	35%	−0.7
29	Pat O'Donnell	Chicago Bears	38.4	68	44.0	24	35%	7%	46%	−7.9
30	Colton Schmidt	Buffalo Bills	38.1	75	42.4	20	27%	4%	11%	−13.9
31	Michael Palardy	Carolina Panthers	37.9	36	42.5	13	36%	6%	17%	+3.1
32	Lac Edwards	New York Jets	37.3	76	43.1	24	32%	5%	29%	−22.2
33	Ryan Quigley	Arizona Cardinals	37.2	35	41.6	13	37%	6%	53%	−3.2
34	Drew Butler	Arizona Cardinals	35.6	32	42.2	10	31%	0%	25%	−10.9

All 2016 NFL punter rankings

Net Punting Average in other seasons: 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017

More 2016 NFL punter leaderboards

Other 2016 NFL rankings

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